Method of assembly of reinforced concrete vessel by prefabricated panel type member at construction site

ABSTRACT

A method for constructing a reinforced concrete vessel at a construct site by assembling prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members and fastening or connecting the members with an assembling and fixing means at a construction site in a short time and the reinforced concrete vessel obtained therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for assembling a reinforced concrete vessel (or tank) at a construction site from panel type reinforced concrete members enabling easy assembly at the construction site.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In the past, reinforced concrete vessels fabricated at the construction site such as water vessels or tanks, drainage vessels or tanks, and waste liquor vessels or tanks suffered required a long time for construction since they were fabricated from wood (e.g., lauan) frames, assembling reinforcing rods in the frame, pouring fresh concrete into the frame, drying and hardening the fresh concrete, removing the frame, providing a waterproofing mortar finish, and, in some cases, applying a lining to provide corrosion resistance.

[0005] Further, when disassembling and removing such a reinforced concrete vessel etc., it was necessary to use tremendous energy by a large construction machine. Further, there was the problem of the disposal of the large amount of smashed and broken concrete. Thus, there are needs for a method of assembly of, for example, an environmentally friendly reinforced concrete water vessel, which is easy to assemble, easy to disassemble, and enables reuse of the disassembled parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, the objects of the present invention are to provide a method of assembling a reinforced concrete vessel which eliminates the above-mentioned problems in the prior art and enables assembly easily at the instruction site in a short time period.

[0007] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for constructing a reinforced concrete vessel at a construction site comprising the steps of:

[0008] assembling prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members; and

[0009] fastening or connecting the same with an assembling and fixing means.

[0010] The singular forms such as “a”, “an” and “the” used herein include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will be better understood from the description set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

[0012] FIGS. 1(a)-(d) are embodiments showing an example of the method according to the present invention, in which panel type reinforced concrete members are used to assemble a concrete vessel at the construction site while fixing using, for example, a piano wire;

[0013] FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are another embodiment showing an example of the method according to the present invention, in which prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members are used to assemble a concrete vessel at the construction site, while fixing using, for example, bolts;

[0014] FIGS. 3(a) and (b) are a partial sectional view (a) and standing view (b) seen from above showing an example of the bolt fixing method of the part “A” in FIG. 2(b); and

[0015] FIGS. 4(a) and (b) are a partial sectional view (a) and view (b) seen from above showing an example of the bolt fixing method of the part “B” in FIG. 2(b).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] The Japanese barrels and tubs are traditionally made by fastening pieces of wood together by use of, for example, hoops. The present invention utilizes the idea of this method and makes it possible to assemble a reinforced concrete vessel such as a concrete water vessel by fastening prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members made at factories such as prefabricated or precast concrete by assembling and fixing means such as a piano wire.

[0017] According to the present invention, since it is possible to use repeatedly usable steel frames, instead of the conventional lauan wood frames, the precast concrete panels are factory made from a steel frame and a starting concrete material (e.g., reinforced concrete), and the work at the construction site becomes mostly assembly, it is possible to assemble a reinforced concrete vessel, etc. in a short time and possible to tremendously shorten the construction period. Further, when the reinforced concrete vessel etc. becomes unnecessary or when desiring to move the reinforced concrete vessel to other place, it can be easily disassembled and the precast concrete panels reused again and again. Therefore, this is an environmentally friendly method of constructing a concrete water vessel, etc., which does not use a wood material such as lauan frames as in the past, does not require tremendous energy for the disassembly of the reinforced concrete vessel, and does not produce waste materials.

[0018] Prefabricated reinforced concrete panels previously made at factories such as the precast concrete panels used for constructing the reinforced concrete vessel according to the present invention may be made any shape such as square, circular, polyhedral, etc. by a general method widely used in the past and also are not particularly limited in dimensions. More preferably, in addition, it is possible to use a water-proof sheet or corrosion resistant sheet attached to one or both surfaces of the panels. The precast reinforced concrete panel members used in the present invention are preferably connected by, for example, a hydraulic jack or bolt fastener so as to enable easy and reliable fastening and assembly at the construction site by, for example, piano wire, PC (i.e., precast concrete) iron rods, PC steel wire, PC steel twisted wire, bolt fixing, and other panel member assembling and fixing means.

[0019] Finally, a concrete vessel having the desired shape and structure as shown in, for example, FIG. 1(d) is assembled and the fixed portions are finished. The finishing of the fixed portions are made by, for example, a packing and sealing materials such as mortar. Further, when the fixed portions have to be corrosion resistant, a corrosion resistant lining is applied thereto.

[0020] According to the present invention, the following advantages can be obtained:

[0021] (1) Compared with the past, it becomes possible to greatly shorten the construction period at the construction site of the reinforced concrete vessel.

[0022] (2) There is almost no need for a conventional wood frame such as lauan material. This frame can be made of steel repeatedly used and is superior not only in the cost, but also in the environmental friendliness.

[0023] (3) By shortening the construction period at the construction site, it is possible to save an energy, whereby the natural environment can be protected from heavy machinery and workers.

[0024] (4) For example, if a water-proof sheet or corrosion resistant sheet is previously attached to the panel members, it is no longer necessary to apply a lining for water-proofing and corrosion resistance at the construction site. Therefore, the construction period is shortened and it is possible to achieve energy savings, which lead to the protection of natural environment.

[0025] (5) The fastenings or bolting means (e.g., the piano wire) are loosened, the vessel can be easily broken down into the original parts and can be reused, and therefore, the disassembly energy is no longer necessary and no substantial amount of waste is produced.

EXAMPLES

[0026] The present invention will now be further illustrated by, but is by no means limited to, the following Examples.

Example 1

[0027] FIGS. 1(a) to (d) show examples of fastening prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members 1 by, for example, piano wire according to the present invention. That is, as shown in FIG. 1(a), tubes (or capillary tubes) 2 for passing piano wire therein are previously provided at the factory inside the panel type reinforced concrete members 1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “panels”), when the panels were manufactured at the factory. At the construction site, for example, a hydraulic jack 3 is used to put together a number of the panels 1 to assemble them successively as shown in FIG. 1(a) to FIG. 1(c), then piano wire is used to successively fasten them. The vertical directions are also fixed in the same manner. Thus, the concrete vessel 4 is formed by finishing the connecting portions of the panel fixing.

Example 2

[0028] Example 2 is shown in FIGS. 2(a) and (b), FIGS. 3(a) and (b), and FIGS. 4(a) and (b). According to the present invention, prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members 5 are successively assembled at the construction site with bolts by a conventional manner as shown in FIG. 2(a), where all the panels 5 are bolt fixed, to assemble a concrete vessel 6 having the desired shape and structure as shown in FIG. 2(b), then the connected and fixed portions of the panels are finished by the method explained above in Example 1.

[0029] FIGS. 3(a) and (b) are views of an example of the state of the portion A of FIG. 2(b) when assembling a concrete vessel by the method of fastening with bolts according to the present invention. Panel type reinforced concrete members 5 are made into special shapes and made to abut each other, then are fastened with bolts 8 and nuts 9 through a plate 7. Note that the abutting parts may also be fastened with grout (e.g., cement paste or mortar) 10, a backup member (e.g., neoprene rubber) 11, sealing (e.g., polysulfide based sealing) 12, mortar 13, etc.

[0030] FIGS. 4(a) and (b) are views of an example of the state of the part B of FIG. 2(a) when assembling a concrete vessel by the method of fastening with bolts according to the present invention. Panel type reinforced concrete members 5 are made to abut each other at a right angle, then fastened with bolts 8 by a plate 7 and a sheath tube 14 provided on one of the panel type reinforced concrete members 5. Note that the abutting parts may also be fastened by grout (e.g., cement paste or mortar) 10, a backup member (e.g., neoprene rubber) 11, sealing (e.g., polysulfide based sealing) 12, mortar 13, etc.

[0031] As explained above, according to the present invention, since panel type members prefabricated at the factory are used, sufficient quality control of the product becomes possible, the strength can be improved with a small amount of material, and the finish becomes beautiful. Further, since the work at the construction site is mostly assembly work, compared with the previous method, there is no longer a limit on the time of the work even in cold locations and assembly even in the rain becomes possible.

[0032] On the other hand, as environmentally friendly effects, there are the major effects of the prevention from destruction of nature, the reduction in use of energy, and the reduction in the amount of waste material produced. Switching over to this from the conventional method of making a concrete water vessel contributes to the protection of the global environment in all industries. 

1. A method for constructing a reinforced concrete vessel at a construction site comprising the steps of: assembling prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members; and fastening or connecting the same with an assembling and fixing means.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforced concrete vessel is a water vessel, drainage vessel or waste liquor vessel.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete member is a precast concrete panel fabricated at a factory from a steel frame and a starting concrete material.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing means is a piano wire, PC iron rod, PC steel wire, PC steel twisted wire or bolt fixing.
 5. A reinforced concrete vessel obtained by assembling and securing prefabricated panel type reinforced concrete members according to claim
 1. 